Don't remember exactly when/where, but I guess I first read/heard about them in like 2001 or so, possibly here on UM even. There was a site mp3.com (which still exists but in another form, it was like what myspace is now, for music that is) and I listened to some songs there, that had to have been the Idle songs. Actually I didn't think it was anything special and didn't pay attention to them anymore. But then No Reply came out in 2002 and I listened to that and really liked it. Their legendary (to me) gig in Utrecht in March 2003 helped a lot as well, been a fan ever since..